Woman says Hanson man threatened her with ax in Braintree

A Hanson man is being held without bail after a woman told police that he cut her with a steak knife and threatened her with a battle ax while asking her if she wanted to die.

By Neal Simpson

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Neal Simpson

Posted Dec. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2013 at 3:11 AM

By Neal Simpson

Posted Dec. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2013 at 3:11 AM

BRAINTREE

» Social News

A Hanson man is being held without bail after a woman told police that he cut her with a steak knife and threatened her with a battle ax while asking her if she wanted to die.

Michael Harlan, 24, of 63 Sleigh Drive, Hanson, was charged with attempted murder, attempted rape, kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and two counts of intimidating a witness. He is due back in Quincy District Court on Thursday for a hearing to determine whether he would pose a danger to the public if released.

Police arrested Harlan around midnight last Tuesday after they were called to South Braintree Square because a woman was screaming in the street, according to a police report. Officers could not locate the woman there, but she later called police from Weymouth and told them she had been trying to get away from Harlan after he choked and cut her, police said.

The woman told police she had returned to Harlan’s apartment in Braintree after spending time with him at Dave and Buster’s, where she said he had been drinking heavily. She said Harlan became increasingly violent at the apartment and tried to keep her from leaving.

At one point, the woman said Harlan pushed her down, climbed on top of her and choked her. When she tried to get up, she said, Harlan slammed a hammer down next to her head and held a battle ax above her, asking if she wanted to die.

The woman told police that Harlan then grabbed a steak knife, forced it into her hand and used it to cut her. She showed officers two cuts along the inside of her left wrist, according to the report.

The woman told officers that she told Harlan repeatedly that she would not have sex with him. She said Harlan chased her down the street when she eventually got out of the apartment but stopped when someone else yelled at him.

When police arrived, Harlan told officers that the woman had left after they had had a fight and she tried to cut her wrists, police said. While searching for the woman, police officers entered the apartment and reported that “there were knives and various weapons spread throughout the apartment including throwing stars, a crossbow and a battle ax.”